Aberdeen came from two goals behind to secure a 2-2 draw against Caley Thistle, in a thrilling Boxing Day match at Pittodrie.
Caley Jags had led 2-0 thanks to Liam Polworth’s strike and Greg Tansey’s penalty, however Niall McGinn pulled one back for the Dons on 74 minutes, before Adam Rooney’s spot-kick at the death rescued a point for the Reds.
The result means the Dons move level on points with leaders Celtic, who they trail on goal difference, while Caley Jags leapfrog Hamilton in eighth place.
The Dons came into the game on the back of an excellent run, having taken 16 points from their last possible 18, and manager Derek McInnes made just one change from the side that defeated Kilmarnock 4-0 with an emphatic win seven days previously. Midfielder Willo Flood dropped out, with Andrew Considine back in the side.
Inverness made three changes from the side that struck late to secure a 2-2 draw against Dundee United the previous weekend, with late goalscorer Lewis Horner dropping out, along with Danny Williams and the suspended Iain Vigurs.
Aberdeen were first to threaten, with Jonny Hayes and Adam Rooney both off target with attempts from outside the box, while visiting goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams did just enough to put off Adam Rooney, who was almost on the end of Kenny McLean’s delivery.
The home side had goalkeeper Danny Ward to thank for keeping them level on 10 minutes however, when Inverness’ leading scorer Miles Storey was sent clean through on goal by Greg Tansey, but Ward stood tall to block his effort with his legs.
Caley Jags were finding plenty space for Storey down the inside right channel, and he was released again on 23 minutes, with his near post attempt deflected behind by Paul Quinn.
The first-half had been far from inspiring, but having spurned arguably the best two chances of the opening 45 minutes, Inverness were in no mood to pass up another opportunity, as they seized the advantage four minutes before the break. Draper was released down the right-hand side, outmuscling Quinn before pulling back a low ball for Polworth to hammer home from 12 yards.
Having ended the first-half in style, Inverness could not have wished for a better start after the interval, when Quinn clumsily hauled down Draper just inside the hosts’ box, with referee Willie Collum showing no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Tansey stepped up to confidently roll the ball past Ward, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Aberdeen pressed for a way back in, with McInnes outlining his attacking intentions by sending on attacker David Goodwillie in place of off-colour defender Quinn.
The game was stopped for nearly five minutes, when Caley Thistle goalkeeper Fon Williams collided against the post at a Dons corner, with the Welshman requiring a head bandage before continuing.
Aberdeen halved the deficit on 74 minutes, when Inverness captain Gary Warren was dispossessed by Dons attacker Niall McGinn, before the Northern Irishman bore down on goal and fired the ball home at the near post from a tight angle.
That set up a tense finish, with the Dons applying constant pressure in their search for an equaliser, McLean’s rasping long-range effort forcing a wonderful save by Fon Williams, who tIpped the ball on to the crossbar.
The Dons’ resistance finally paid off on 90 minutes though, when referee Collum adjudged Goodwillie’s shot struck the arm of defender Danny Devine, with former Caley Jags forward Rooney tucking home the resulting penalty.
With six minutes of injury-time added on, the home crowd tried to roar their side on to secure a winner, however the two sides had to settle for a point in a thrilling encounter.